Beginning with a Quick Flight over the Pond

“I’ve heard they speak the same language there!” One can imagine how many times I have heard that as a reaction to my telling people that I will be spending this semester in Canterbury, England. A close second: “Canterbury? Have you ever heard of Canterbury Tales?” (and yes, of course, I have).

For the past few weeks I have been telling and retelling the news that I will be studying at the University of Kent to all the friends and family I have seen. After the initial “that is a great experience!” and the support that I have received from each person I told, one of the above reactions is usually expected. And thankfully, all of the excitement that I have received over the past months has definitely reaffirmed me in my decision to lead the comfortableness of Georgetown and begin this new adventure.

Unlike a lot of my friends who have studied abroad before me and who are studying abroad this semester, my decision to study abroad was a months-long process, starting with the decision of whether to go abroad and then extending to the decision of where to study, since Georgetown offers so many amazing programs. And while all the well wishes made any worries I had seemed very small, I could not help but think of them while I pack all of my belongings into two, much too small suitcases (a seemingly impossible task) for the next 5 months.

Being the only person from Georgetown going to the University of Kent this spring definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. It is a little intimidating flying to a different continent where you know no one and thinking that this is where your life will be for the foreseeable future. But it is also so exciting to think about all the new friends to make, all the new places to go, and the new home to explore. Choosing to study abroad, especially alone, is definitely pushing me out of my comfort zone, but I cannot wait for the experiences I will have!

And now, after a 7-hour flight to London Heathrow airport, I am sitting in a Canterbury hotel room waiting to move into my 8 person flat tomorrow, and I have plenty of time to reflect on the semester that is to come. After months and months of searching “Canterbury” and “University of Kent” on Google, it is hard to believe that I am finally here! Although I am nervous to begin at a new school (I feel a little bit like a freshman again), it feels surreal that in just about 15 hours I will be checking into my flat and meeting the people who I will spend the next 5 months with. And as nerve-wracking as it does seem right now (it is a pretty life changing experience, after all), I know that this will be an unforgettable semester!


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